For a while, I've been wondering about the difference between the inciting incident and major plot points, and I've been confused about it for a while. I had always thought that the inciting incident and plot points were two different things in a novel. What is the difference between them and when should the inciting incident occur in a YA novel in the historical fiction genre?
The inciting incident doesn't even need to be shown in the work, it could happen before it starts (I've done one of those). Maybe you'll start with the fallout from that one thing (that too). Maybe it'll be in chapter one. (yup) Maybe a little later (yup) but you'll need to set that incident up in those first pages. If you haven't got to it fairly soonish though, you might want to rethink.
